The best in the series by some distance.

Way of the Samurai's freedom is also its biggest problem.

We're happy to sing this game's praises. [Jan 2010, p.113]

Adventure fans point your clicker this way. [Christmas 2009, p.105]

Short and sweet but still satisfying. [Jan 2010, p.115]

If you're a metal fan, you'll love it. But if you didn't have to prise your fingers out of the devil-horn pose to play, you'll finish it in a day and feel underwhelmed.

You can almost hear the developer laughing manically as it adds yet another 50ft, bright pink, killer Angler Fish to the mix and forces you to sit through more pouting and tantrum-heavy dialogue. But it does have that combat system, detailed garish character designs and drags you kicking and screaming along for the ride - even if you have ridden it a hundred times before.

Where the mild things are. [Feb 2010, p.111]

Dull, frustrating and deeply dated cash-in. [Jan 2010, p.113]

Charming but infuriating puzzler. [Feb 2010, p.113]

Impossible to play without laughing. [Christmas 2009, p.105]

More than anything, it's a game that, even after completion, we want to keep returning to again and again, adding different ingredients to the freeform formula and seeing what kind of explosions we can create. We can guarantee you won't have played an FPS quite like this on Xbox 360, but now that one's arrived, you certainly should. [Nov 2009, p.84]

An amazing new low for platforming games. [Christmas 2009, p.102]

Not a patch on the big screen version. [Jan 2010, p.115]

Much improved, but still behind 2K10. [Christmas 2009, p.93]

On top of its game - this is the one to get. [Christmas 2009, p.92]

The most boring natural disaster you'll ever see. [Apr 2010, p.107]

Mindless fun, best played with mates. [Christmas 2009, p.104]

Those who've already purchased the DLC might look at that £40 price tag with concern, but - make sure you're seated - we reckon its quality, not quantity that matters most here. And ODST has bundles of in both it's superb single-player and sublime online modes.

That ambition is hamstrung by a development budget that would struggle to cover a six-pack of crisps and an engine that is best at simulating the mid-point of cataract formulation. [Apr 2010, p.109]

It's a giggle, but it won't last long. [Dec 2009, p.107]

Excellent value. [Dec 2009, p.106]

It may sound like Prince of Persia locked, loaded and with a bad attitude, but WET manages to raise itself above such a me-too premise through pure charm.

It's this balance between arcade and sim racing - two apparently conflicting styles - that gives Shift its edge. While it doesn't quite hit the heights of Project Gotham Racing 4 or even RACE Pro, it's a huge leap forward for a series that had definitely lost its way. We're feeling the need for speed all over again.

The best ice hockey game yet. [Nov 2009, p.96]

With IL-2 asserting impressive air superiority in the last month or so, there's no reason to pick up this ropier and less satisfying interpretation of the same conflict. Technically unimpressive and snooze-inducing, it's less "chocks away" and more "chock this in the bin".

There's an overall lack of personality to the game - there aren't enough control quirks to master or career goals to aim for. While EA's NHL 10 rewards you at every turn for digging into the game, NHL 2K10 has nothing new to offer but the chance to ride a Zamboni machine and polish ice.

Another great slice of comic book action.